Boiler-furnace



' (No Model.) v 3Sheets--Sheet1.

W. H. PEARCE.

BOILER FURNACE.

No. 684,271. Patented June 8, 1897.

(No Model.)

W. H. PEARCE.

BOILER FURNACE No. 584,271. P

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ilnrTnn STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

IVILLIAM H. PEARCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOILER-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 584,271, dated June 8, 1897. Application filed November 19,1896. Serial No. 612,680. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM H. PEARCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boiler-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boiler-furnaces.

The object of the invention is to simplify and improve the construction of boiler-furnaces and render the same more efficient and economical in operation.

Theinvent-ion consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a View, partly in transverse section and partly in front elevation, of a boiler-furnace constructed in accordan ce with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a broken vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a detached detail view in plan, parts being broken out and parts being broken away, showing the grate surface and the method of arranging the same. Fig. 4 is a broken detached detail view, in vertical transverse section, of the grate-bars, showing the manner of mounting the grate-supporting trucks. Fig. 5 is a detached detail broken view, in side elevation, of the construction shown in'Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a slightly-modified form of supporting-rail for the grate-trucks. Fig. 7 is a detached broken detail view, parts being in section, illustrating a slightly-modifled construction and arrangement for counterbalancing the grate-trucks. Fig. 8 is a similar view of another modified form of count-erbalancing arrangement. Fig. 9 is a detached broken detail view in plan, parts being in horizontal section, on the line 9 9, Fig. 2, of the platform upon which the coal is introduced to the furnace, showing means for evenly distributing'the coal upon the grate surface.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the drawings reference-sign A designates the boiler, B a suitable boiler-setting, and O the fire-arch. These parts may be of the usual or any ordinary, well-known, or convenient construction and arrangement, and as myinvention does not reside in the specific construction and arrangement of these parts I do not desire to belimited or restricted to the specific construction or arrangement thereof shown in the drawings.

I have shown and will now describe my i11- vention as applied in duplicate to a boilerfurnace; but of course it will be understood one or any desired number of sets of apparatus embodying my invention may be em ployed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, and therefore I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not limit or confine myself in this respect to the exact form and construction shown and described.

In the form shown I provide for each set of grates a hopper D, into which the coal to be fed to the grate is dumped. This hopper is mounted in any suitable or convenient manner and position upon the furnace-front, and the boiler end thereof delivers into the furnace-chamber and upon a platform E. In

practice I prefer to employ two hoppers for each f urnace-chamber, and I arrange the hoppers respectively on opposite sides of a vertical line central with respect to the boilerfront. By this arrangement I am enabled to arrange the down spouts of the feedingchutes, through which the coal may be fed to the hopper, to one side of the boiler-front and at such a point as will notinterfere with the opening of the boiler-front doors.

In order that a steady and positive feed may be imparted to the coal, to the end that the coal may be properly fed to the platform E, and in order to prevent choking up of the lower or delivery end of the hopper, Iarrange a suitable plate or pusher F, having a flat upper surface and a depending front flan ge G to extend the entire width of the hopper and to reciprocate in suitable guides H, formed in the side walls of the hopper. In practice I arrange the pusher-plate F to reciprocate in a downwardly and inwardly inclined direction, conforming to the general inclination of the lower or delivery end of the hopper. The flat surface of the pusher-plate serves as a stop to prevent the coal from falling down in front of the furnace.

At each end of the pusher-plate is pivotally connected one end of a link J, said links being pivotally connected at the other ends thereof to the ends of crank-arms K, mounted upon the ends of a rock-shaft L. By suitably rocking said shaft it will be readily seen and understood that the pusher-plate F is reciprocated in its guides, and it will also be seen and understood that each movement of said plate toward the furnace-chamber Will cause the front or depending flange G, which constitutes the pusher proper, to push the coal collected in the delivery end of the hopper into the furnace-chamber and upon the platform E. The mechanism for effecting a rocking of the shaft Lwill presently be more fully described.

It is desirable that the coal delivered upon the platform E be evenly distributed to the grate-surface in order to avoid the objection of banking up the fire or bed of fuel at one point more than at another, and hence in order to secure an even and level bed of fuel. In order to accomplish this desirable object, I provide a rib, which may be cast with, mounted on, or otherwise secured upon the upper surface of the platform E, and arrange the same after the manner of an inverted V, as shown, with the apex of the V arranged centrally with respect to the length of said platform and presented toward the top edge of said platform and with the side portions of said \l-rib diminishing in height toward the ends thereof, as clearly shown, said ends finally vanishing in the surface of the platform.

From this construction it will be seen that as the coal is fed to the platform by pusherplate F it encounters the raised rib 1W1 and is thereby evenly spread out over the front ends of the grate-bars. I will now describe the construction, function, and mode of operation of the grates, and while I have shown and will describe a specific construction thereof I desire it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself thereto, as many variations therefrom and changes therein would readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. In the construc tion shown I arrange within the furnacechamber rails or supporting-bars N, arranged in pairs and forming a track or way upon which are mounted truck-frames. The truckframes comprise the side bars 0 O and the transverse bars or ribs P P. It will be seen that I mount two truck-frames upon each pair of supporting-rails. The side bars 0 O of the truck-frames are provided with hangers Q Q, arranged to rest upon and to be supported by the track-rails N. In order to re duce friction to the lowest possible degree, I interpose a rolling bearing between the under surface of the side bars 0 O and the track-rails N.

I have shown several forms of construction and arrangement as illustrative of the generic idea. For instance, in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 I provide the upper edge of supporting trackrails N with a plane surface, and I provide the hangers Q Q with pockets, as indicated at R, on their under surface, and I arrange the loose balls S in said pockets to rest on the plane surface of the top edge of rail N and to receive the weight of the truck-frame and to form the bearing for said truck-frame against the top edge of the rail, as clearly shown. Instead of this construction I may form the top edge of the track-rails and also the under edge of the hangers Q Q with V- shaped projections, and interpose the loose peripherally-grooved rollers T between said V shaped edges or projections, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. By thus providing a rollerbearing or a loose roller instead of wheels I am enabled to avoid the necessity-of axles and I reduce friction to thelowest possible degree, and hence also reduce the construction to an exceedingly simple and inexpensive point.

Instead of supporting both trucks from the same pair of rails I may, if desired, provide supporting-rails for each truck, or I may provide the same rail with a pair of rail-surfaces, as indicated atU U, Fig. 6. The transverse ribs or bars P P are provided with alternating projections 12 and depressions 13, and the projections 12 on the transverse bars or ribs P of one truck-frame are arranged to register with depressions 13 of the corresponding transverse bars or ribs P of the other truckframe, both sets of said projections 12 being of equal height. The grate-bars 14 are supported upon the projections 12 of the transverse bars or ribs. From this construction it will be seen that the grate-bars all lie in the same plane, and that the grate-bars supported by one truck alternate with those supported by the other truck. The relative dimensions of the depressions 13 and projections 12 are so proportioned that sufficient space is left between adjacent or contiguous grate-bars for draft purposes, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. The projections 12 are provided with seats or sockets 15, in which are adapted to be received projecting fingers 16, suitably cast or bolted or otherwise formed on the grate-bars. Each grate-bar is provided with a finger or projection 15 at one end thereof, and at the other end thereof is provided with a projecting lug or abutment 17, adapted to bear against the corresponding projection 12 of the rib or cross-bar P P at the other end of the truck-frame. From this construction it will be seen that not only are the grate-bars of one truck independent of those of the other truck, but the individual bars of each truck are independent of each other. By this construction I am enabled to remove or replace without difficulty any of the grate bars, as occasion may require, and without in any manner disturbing the others. In practice, and as clearly shown in Fig. 2, I prefer to provide each truck-frame with three transverse bars or ribs, one arranged at each end IIC able sections, and hence I am enabled to replace or to reverse the individual grate-bars end for end, or I may interchange the two sections of each grate-bar, as occasion may require, from the more rapid burning out of one section than the other, and such replacement, reversal, or interchange may be effected quickly, easily, and readily, and of only the particular grate-bar desired, without disturbing the others and without the necessity of removing the entire grate-surface. These are features of material importance for the reason that the grate-bars are burned out at one point more rapidly than at another, and by my construction and arrangement, as above pointed out, I am enabled to materially increase the life of the grate-surface and without additional expense.

NVhile I have shown and described the truck-frames as having three transverse bars or ribs and the grate-bars made up of two sections, it will be evident, of course, that the truck-frames may have only two or any desired number of transverse bars or ribs, and the grate-bars may be in one or any desired number of sections and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not desire to be limited or restricted, therefore, in this respect to the exact construction and arrangement shown.

In order that the fuel maybe fed along the grate-surface, it is important to impart a reciprocating movement to the grate-surfaces. Many different specific forms and arrangements of apparatus for accomplishing this obj ect may be provided, and while, therefore, I have shown and will now describe a specific form and arrangement of an operative means for accomplishing the desired result, I do not desire to be restricted orlimited thereto. 111 the form shown I p ivotally connect to each grate-truck one end of a link or connectingrod 18 19. These rods may be reciprocated by any suitably-arranged motor. For instance, the other end of link 19 is pivotally connect ed to a crank-arm 20, mounted on a rockshaft 21, suitably journaled in bearings conveniently mounted upon the boiler-fron t, and the other end of link 18 is pivotallyconnected to a crank-arm 22, mounted in a suitablyjournaled rock-shaft A suitable hydraulic, steam, or other form of motor 2% is provided for the purpose of rocking each shaft, the piston-rods 25 26 of said motors bein g pivoted to crankarms 27 28, respectively, mounted on shafts 21 23. I have shown the motor 24: for only one shaft, and only a portion of the piston-rod 26 of the other motor. By suitably constructing, arranging, and manipulating the motors I am enabled to impart to the grate-trucks any desired relative re ciprocatiOns-that is, I may move said trucks together or in unison in one direction, say, for instance, away from the platform E and alternately return said trucks to their original positionsor I may impart to said trucks a continuous alternating reciprocationthat is, While one truck is moving in one-direction the other truck is moving in the other direction-or any other desirable relative movement may be imparted to the grate-trucks, and hence to the grate-surface. Through the movements of the grate-surface the fuel is steadily and evenly advanced through the furnace-chamber, and at the rear extremity of the grate-surface the ashes and any unburned particles of coal or fuel fall upon the plate 25) and from thence into the ash-chamber 30. This plate 29 is provided With one portion of the surface thereof substantially parallel with the line of reciprocation of the grates and an other portion thereof rearwardly and downwardly inclined from such line of reciprocation, thereby facilitating the feed of the ashes and unburned particles of coal from the grate-surface to the ash-pit. Moreover, from this construction I avoid the objection of the rear or inner ends of the grate-bars being maintained in burning fuel during the consumption of the unburned particles of coal after leaving the grate-surface, such unburned particles falling away from the line of reciprocation of the grate-bars, and hence I avoid burning out the ends of the grate-bars. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the coal is being converted into heat and is consequently being consumed and reduced to ashes throughout the whole of the time occupied by the travel of the bed of fuel along the grate-surface, and since the movement of the grate-surface effects a gradual and even advancement of the entire bed of fuel I am enabled to maintain a clean steady fire, free from clinkers, and I effect a complete and thorough combustion of the fuel, and hence secure the highest possible degree of efficiency in effecting a steam conversion. In case, however, any particles of unburned or un consumed coal should reach the plate 29 it is desirable to effect a combustion thereof and at the same time to utilize the heat of such combustion. To this endIperforate the rearwardly or downwardly inclined portion of plate 29, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, and by maintaining a draft through said perforations I continue the combustion of any unconsumed particles of coal beyond the regular grate-surface and at a point Where the heat of such combustion may be made effective.

The ash-chamber 30 is partitioned off from the main ash-pit 31 by means of a hinged door 32, as indicated in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This arrangement is important for the reason that thereby the ash-chamber 30 may be filled with ashes which are dead T to a height approximately correspondin g to the level of the plate 29 or of the IIO distance from the boiler A, such that the heat of such combustion may be effectively applied to the boiler, and in the next place said column of ashes serves to prevent any back draft, which would tend to reduce the temperature in the rear end of the furnace-chamber and interfere with the proper combustion of the coal. When the column of ashes in chamber 30 has piled up to an objectionable height, the door 32 may be opened and a sufficient amount of ashes removed or raked down into the ashpit 31 to lower the level of such column to the desired point, after which the door 32 may be again closed. The ashes may finally be removed from the furnace through the front ash-door pit 33 of the boiler-front.

In order to secure the best possible results, it is desirable that the grate-surface be inclined rearwardly from the front end of the furnace-chamber. Such arrangement also facilitates the reciprocation of the grate-trucks and reduces to a minimum the power required to effect such reciprocation. In order to accomplish these results, I mount the rails N in an inclined position in the furnacechamber, and therefore the movements of the trucks down the inclined tracks are assisted by gravity. In order to counterbalance the truck-frames and to render their reciprocation in the opposite direction easy and with the expenditure of the smallest possible amount of power, I provide counterbalances for said truck-frames. Many different forms of construction and arrangement for accomplishing this purpose may be employed, and I have shown several forms embodying the idea. For instance, in Fig. 2 I have shown a bellcrank lever 34, suitably mounted in the furnace-chamber and having one arm thereof connected to a grate truck-frame and the other arm having adj ustably mounted thereon a weight 35. Instead of the weighted arm a chain 36 may be connected at one end to the truck-frame and, after passing over a suitable guide-pulley 37, may carry the weight 35 suspended from the other end, as shown in Fig. 7, or, if desired, a suitable spring 38 may be connected at one end to the truck-frame and at the other to a fixed part, as indicated in Fig. 8. In any case the tendency of the weight or the weighted cord or the spring is to counterbalance the grate-trucks, and hence to assist the mechanism by which said trucks are reciprocated. Of course it will be understood that each truck-frame is provided with a counterbalancing means.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide a positive and regular feed of fuel to and through the furnace-chamber, and that in consequence I maintain a constant and steady fire of substantially even This 001-" depth throughout. However, the necessity may sometimes arise for a quick fire, and hence it is desirable to provide a ready access to the furnace-chamber, whereby when such necessity arises the bed of fuel may be stirred up, thereby loosening any clinker that may have been formed, and also whereby, when desired, fuel may be fed by hand to the grate-surface. In order to accomplish these desirable ends, I provide a door 39 in the boiler-front and arrange such a door in suitable relation with respect to each set of grate-surfaces. In the form shown said doors are arranged adj acent to the center of the boiler-front and at a point above the front ends of the grate-bars and above the supporting-plate E at a point substantially the same height as the delivery end of the hopper D. By this construction I am enabled to readily introd uce by hand the coal to the grate-furnace when occasion requires, or I may introduce through said door means for stirring up the bed of fuel and loosening any clinker formation.

Upon shaft 21 is mounted a crank-arm 4.0, to which is pivotally connected one end of a link or rod 41, the other end of said rod being arranged to pass through a perforation in the end of an arm 42, mounted upon to rock with rock-shaft L. Aset-nut 4:3 and ahand screwwheel 44, respectively arranged on opposite sides of the arm 42, serve to adjust and regulate the length of stroke of said rod 41 when said shaft 23 is rocked, as above explained. By the rocking of shaft L the arms K are rocked, thereby effecting a reciprocation of the flanged feeding-plate F, as above described.

Heretofore an air-draft has been provided in connection with the fire-arch by providing openings in or adjacent to the fire-arch. This construction is not altogether satisfactory for the reason that the air is thereby introduced in a sheet, and hence instead of furnishing oxygen to the products of combustion to effect a thorough consumption thereof in the space immediately adjacent to the fire-arch such sheets of fresh air unduly consume the heat in this part of the furnace. In order to avoid this objection and to provide means whereby air is supplied to this part of the f urnacechamber in a manner that will effect a thorough consumption of the carbon or other unbu rned products or constituents of the smoke, I arrange in the front wall of the furnace an air-box 45 and at a point adjacent to the front end of the fire-arch, and I arrange said airbox to extend a considerable distance below the under surface of the fire-arch, and I suitably perforate the inner wall of said fire-box, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. By this particular construction andarrangement I introduce the air at different distances from the under surface of the fire-arch and in sprays, so to speak, thereby effecting a more thorough commingling of the introduced air with the smoke and other gases and unconsumed portions arising from the bed of fuel, and

hence effecting a more thorough combustion and consumption thereof and without the objection noted above of unduly lowering the temperature at this point in the furnacechamber.

Many changes and variations in the details of construction and arrangement would readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit-and scope of myinvention. I do not desire, there fore, to be understood as limiting myself to the specific construction and arrangement shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and an operative embodiment thereof, and having described the construction, function, and mode of operation of such embodiment, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a boiler-furnace, a platform adapted to receive the coal as it is fed to the furnacechamber, said platform provided with a raised rib arranged V-shaped, with the point thereof presented away from the grate-surface and with the side portions thereof diminishing in height from said point toward the grate-sui-- face, whereby the coal is evenly distributed to the grate-surface; as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a boiler-furnace, a grate-surface comprising a series of grate-bars, said bars arranged longitudinally with respect to the f urnace-chamber and being provided with an abutment at one end and a projecting finger at the other end and relatively stationary transversely-arranged cross-bars forming a support for the ends of said bars, said finger adapted to engage the cross-bar at one end of said grate-bar and said abutment adapted to bear against the cross-bar at the other end of said bar, whereby said grate-bars are removable and reversible; as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a truck mounted thereon, grate-bars independently mounted on said truck and capable of being independently removable or reversible and means for reciprocating said truck; as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a pair of trucks mounted thereon, a series of grate-bars independently mounted on said trucks, the gratebars of one truck being arranged in the same plane, but alternating with the grate-bars of the other, truck, means whereby said gratebars may be independently removed, interchanged or reversed, and means for reciprocating said trucks; as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a truck comprising side bars and connecting transverse bars mounted thereon, a series of grate-bars supported on said transverse bars, said gratebars provided With an abutment at one end arranged to bear against the transverse supporting-bar at one end of the truck and also provided with means at the other end adapted to detachably engage the transverse supporting-bar of the truck at that end of the truck, and means for reciprocating said truck; as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a truck comprising side bars and transverse connectingbars, said transverse bars provided with alternating depressions and projections, said projections provided with sockets or perforations, grate-bars arranged to besupported on said projections and having fingers adapted to be received in the sockets or perforations of said projections; as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a pair of trucks arranged on said track and each comprising side bars and transverse connecting-bars, said transverse connecting-bars provided with alternating depressions and projections, the depressions and projections of the transverse bars of one truck respectively registering with the projections and depressions of the transverse bars of the other truck, grate-bars supported upon said projections, and means for reciprocating said truck; as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chain her, a truck mounted on said track, a grate-surface supported by said truck, means for reciprocating said truck and a. roller-bearing interposed between said truck and track; as and for the purpose set forth.

, 9. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a truck-frame provided with hangers, a loose rollerarranged to operate upon said track and form a hearing for said truck, a gratesurface supported by said truck, and means for reciprocating said truck; as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber and provided with a smooth upper edge, a truck-frame provided with hangers, said hangers having pockets formed in the under edge thereof, loose rollers arranged in said pockets and adapted to rest upon said track, thereby constituting a roller-bearing for said truck, a grate-surface supported by said truck and means for reciprocating said truck; as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the f urnace-chamber, a truck mounted thereon, a grate-surface carried by said truck, a motor and connections between said motor and truck for reciprocating the same; as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a pair of trucks mounted thereon, grate-bars mounted on said trucks, a motor and connections between said motor and trucks :for imparting any desired relative movement to said trucks; as and for the purposeset forth.

13. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the f urnace-chamber, a grate-supporting truck mounted thereon, a rock-shat t journ aled in the boiler-front,a crank-arm mounted thereon, a link pivotally connecting said crank-arm and said truck and motor for rocking said shaft; as and for the purpose set forth.

14:. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a pair of trucks mounted thereon, grate-bars supported by said trucks, the grate-bars of one truck alternating with those of the other truck, rockshafts journaled on the boiler-front, crankarms mounted thereon, a link pivotally connectin g each of said trucks to a crank on said shafts, and a motor for rocking said shafts; as andfor the purpose set forth.

15. In a boiler-furnace, two sets of tracks arranged within the furnace-chamber, a pair of trucks mounted on each set of tracks,gratebars supported by said trucks, the grate-bars of one truck alternating with the grate-bars of the other truck of the same set, rock-shafts, crank-arms mounted thereon, links arranged to pivotally connect each truck with a crankarm on said shafts, and a motor for rocking said shafts; as and for the purpose set forth.

16. Inaboiler-furnace, a grate-surface suitably supported within the furnace-chamber, in combination with a plate arranged at the rear end of the grate-surface and having a rearwardly and downwardly projecting perforated portion; as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In a boiler-furnace, a grate-surface suitably mounted within the furnace-chamber, means for reciprocating the same, and a stationary plate arranged at the rear end of said reciprocating surface said plate havin g a perforated portion thereof arranged to project rearwardly and downwardly from the line of reciprocation of such surface; as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a boiler-furnace, a furnace-chamber and an ash-pit, a track arranged Within the furnace-chamber, a truck mounted thereon, a grate-surface carried by said truck and means for reciprocating said truck, an ashchamber arranged at the rear end of said grate-surface whereby the ashes are delivered by the reciprocations of the grate-surface into said ash-chamber, and a door arranged to separate said ash-chamber and said ash-pit, as and for the purpose set forth.

19. In a boiler-furnace, a furnace-chamber and an ash-pit, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a truck mounted thereon, a grate-surface carried by said truck, a motor and connections between said motor and truck for reciprocating the same, and an ashchamber arranged at the rear or near end of said grate-surface, and a door arranged to separate said ash-chamber and said ash-pit, as and for the purpose set forth.

20. In a boilerfurnace, a furnace-chamber, and an ash-pit, a grate-surface mounted to reciprocate in said furnace-chamber, an ashchamber arranged at the rear end of said grate-surface, a stationary plate arranged between said grate-surface and said ash-chamber, said plate having a perforated portion thereof arranged to project rearwardly and downwardly from the line of reciprocation of such surface and a door arranged to separate 1 said ash-chamber and said ash-pit; as and .for the purpose set forth.

21. In a boiler-furnace, an inclined track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a truck mounted thereon, grate bars supported by i said truck, means for reciprocating said truck, and a counterbalance for said truck; as and for the purpose set forth.

22. In a boiler-furnace, an inclined track arranged Within the f urnace-chamber, a truck mounted thereon, gratebars supported by said truck, means for reciprocating said truck, and means for yieldingly counterbalancing said truck; as and for the purpose set forth.

23. In a boiler-furnace, an inclined track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a pair of trucks mounted thereon, grate-bars sup ported by said trucks, means for reciprocating said trucks and a countai'balance for each truck; as and for the PUIQJSG set forth.

24. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnacechamber, a truck mounted thereon, a grate-s11 rface carried by said truck, a motor having a piston and direct connections between the motor-piston and said truck for reciprocating the latter, as and for the purpose set forth.

25. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnace-chamber, a truck mounted thereon, a grate-surface carried by said truck, a motor provided with a piston and links directly connecting said piston and truck for reciprocating the latter, as and for the purpose set forth.

26. In a boiler-furnace, a track arranged within the furnacechamber, atruck mounted thereon, a grate-surface carried by said truck, a feed-h0pper, a pusher arranged to operate therein to deliver the fuel to said grate-surface, a motor and connections between said motor and truck and also between said motor and pusher for actuating said pusher and reci procatin g said truck, as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of November, 1896.

VILLIAM H. PEARCE.

Witnesses:

M. I. GAVANAGH, S. E. DARBY.

IIO 

